Powered windshield track cutter

ABSTRACT

A powered means for simultaneously cutting two seal portions of conventional windshield tracks. An L-shaped blade having both legs with sharpened edges is attached to an elongated frame member having a grasping portion thereof. A force transferring means is adapted to be operatively connected to the elongated frame member and to a powered force supplying means, such as an air hammer or the like. A collar on the frame member prevents movement of the force transferring means towards the blade during operation.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,924,327

Edwards Dec. 9, 1975 [54] POWERED WrNDSHrELD TRACK CUTTER FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Inventor: Jerry Clyde Edwards, 3, BOX 2,7911/1909 United Kingdom 30/312 h ph M 39350 513,568 12/1930 Germany [22]Filed: Sept. 25, 1974 Primary ExaminerAl Lawrence Smith [21] PP N03509,347 Assistant ExaminerJ. T. Zatarga Attorney, Agent, or FirmCushman,Darby and 52 US. Cl. 30/277; 30/315 Cushma [51] Int. Cl. B26B 3/04; 82687/00 [58] Field of Search 30/277, 314, 315, 317, ABSTRACT 30/312, 294,289 A powered means for simultaneously cutting two seal portions ofconventional windshield tracks. An L- [56] References Cited shaped bladehaving both legs with sharpened edges is UNITED STATES PATENTS attachedto an elongated frame member having a 513,077 1/1894 Bourland 30/312grasping portion A force transferring means is 715,056 12/1902 Gruner30/312 ux adapted to be operatively connected to the elongated 811,2821/1906 Eriksson 30/312 X frame member and to 3 Powered force pp y g1,043,729 11/1912 R0lfson.... 30/312 m Such as n air mm r r he lik Aollar n 2,337,236 12/1943 Gamble... 30/315 X the frame member preventsmovement of the force 3,22 3 12/1965 Young l 4 30/277 X transferringmeans towards the blade during opera- 3,279,060 10/1966 Young 30/315 x m3,398,613 8/1968 Gallotti.... 30/289 x 3,448,517 6/1969 Cothery 30/317 x7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures U.s. Patent Dec.91975 3,924,327

FOWERED WINDSHIELD TRACK CUTTER BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe general field of the invention is the cutting of materials withpowered means, and the specific field of the invention is in the cuttingof vehicle windshield tracks for the replacement of a windshield. Whilethere are many powered means for cutting materials in the general fieldof the invention (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,003,237, 3,577,638, and 3,698,085for example), none of said means are particularly adapted to the cuttingof windshield tracks. The cutting of windshield tracks requires a toolthat is easy to control to prevent movement away from the relativelynarrow tracks to the vehicle body or the windshield itself [which wouldresult in damage to the tool or the vehicle or both and makes removal ofthe windshield more difficult], and which can cut more than one memberat a time. Also, because of the shape and location of conventionalwindshield tracks, access thereto is difficult with most conventionalpowered cutting means. In the specific field of the invention it hasbeen common practice to cut conventional windshield tracks with handtools. However, modern windshield tracks are difficult to cut in thismanner, and the process is time consuming. Also many prior art devicesfor windshield removal such as shown in US. Pat. No. 1,863,897 areunsuitable for modern windshield tracks. Nor are prior art means (seeU.S. Pat. No. 2,735,179 for example) for replacing glass panes for housewindows suitable for windshield replacement since powered cutting ofmore than one member at once is not contemplated.

According to the present invention an assembly is provided that providesfor effective powered cutting of windshield tracks, or other suitablemembers, facilitating quick and easy replacement of vehicle Windshields.Accordingto the invention a frame member for a cutting blade is adaptedto be positioned by one of the operators hands so that the cutting edgesof the blade are disposed in position to properly cut the windshieldtracks. Such a frame member preferably includes a handle member disposedin a plane generally perpendicular to one cutting blade edge andparallel to the other cutting blade edge and adapted to be grasped bythe operator. A means is also provided that is adapted to be connectedto a power means (i.e. an air hammer) and transfer the force supplied bythe air hammer to the cutting blade. Such means preferably comprises achisel member having one end thereof fork-shaped and adapted tooperatively engage the frame between the fork prongs, an elongatedmiddle portion, and the other end thereof adapted to be connected tosaid power means. The middle portion of the chisel is disposed in aplane generally perpendicular to the handle of the frame duringoperation of the device.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide powered cuttingmeans specially adapted to cut windshield tracks for facilitating quickand easy replacement of vehicle Windshields. This and other objects ofthe invention will become clear from an inspection of the detaileddescription of the invention and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective diagrammaticview of an exemplary assembly according to the invention in use forcutting a windshield track;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the components of the exemplary assemblyaccording to the present invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detail perspective view of an exemplary cutting blade foruse according to the teachings of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a detail perspective view showing the blade in FIG. 3 inoperative engagement with a windshield track.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An exemplary assembly according tothe present invention for cutting windshield tracks is shown generallyat 10 in FIG. 2;The major components of the assembly are a frame member15 for a cutting means 25, and a chisel force-transferring means 30. Asuitable force supplying means, such as air hammer 40, is adapted to beconnected to one end of the force-transferring means 30.

The frame member 15 comprises an elongated bar 17 preferably having ahandle 18 at one end thereof, and cutting blade receiving means 20, 22at the other end thereof. A collar 19 is formed on the bar 17 at a pointspaced from but close to a cutting blade receiving means 20 (shown indotted line in FIG. 2). The collar 19 is adapted to receive portions ofone end of the chisel member 30 and prevent movement of the chiselmember toward the cutting blade 25 when the assembly is in use. Frame 15allows precise guiding of the blade 25 in cutting a windshield trackeven though large forces are applied thereto, and also assures properalignment of blade 25 for maximum cutting effectiveness.

The cutting blade receiving means preferably includes a slot 20 withinthe end 22 of the frame 15 below the collar 19. The end 22 of frame 15and the blade 25 have openings therein for receipt of a suitablefastening means such as screw 23 when the blade 25 is received withinthe slot 20.

The blade 25 is generally L-shaped, having flat surfaces 26, 27 forminglegs thereof, the leg 26 being adapted to be received within the slot 20and having screw-receiving opening 24 therein. Either one or both edgesof each of legs 26 and 27 such as edges 28, 29 are sharpened, the edge29 along the whole length of leg 27, and the edge 28 along the length ofleg 26 that extends out of slot 20 in frame 15. The edges are sosharpened that they may out both the bottom seal 52 and the edge seal 53of a windshield track, as most clearly shown in FIG. 4. The seals 52, 53are conventionally formed of rubber or the like glued or otherwiseaffixed to the windshield 54. Access thereto is limited by the verynature of the design, and cutting thereof with hand means is difficult.

Edge 29 of blade 25 may be sharpened in one of two manners so thatcutting of seal 52 may be effected The top of edge 29 may be sharpenedso that the blade will cut through the middle portion of the seal 52, orthe bottom of the edge 29 may be sharpened so that the blade will cutthe seal right at its point of engagement with the pinch weld 56. Thetype of sharpening used on the blade will depend upon the type ofinstallation kit that will be used to effect installation of a newwindshield once the old one has been removed.

The force-transferring member 30 may be of any suitable constructionthat allows effective, guided transfer of force from a force-supplyingmeans (such as air hammer 40) to the cutting blade without allowingexcessive play. Such a means preferably takes the form of a chiselmember having an elongated middle portion 35, a pair of fork prongs 32,33 at one end thereof adapted to receive the bar 17 of frame whileabutting collar 19, and a portion 37 at the other end of portion 35adapted to be connected to a force supplying means, such as air hammer40. Air hammer 40 may be of any conventional type, having a conventionalcoiled retaining spring portion 43 thereof for cooperation with the endportion 37 of chisel 30, an operating trigger 44, and a suitableconnection 46 to a source of air under pressure.

Operation of the assembly according to the invention is as follows: Asuitable cutting blade is connected to frame 15 by passing a portion ofleg 26 of blade 25 into slot 20 of portion 22 and opening 24 in blade25. The moulding of a windshield 54 is removed by conventional means,and the sharpened edges 28, 29 of blade 25 are placed into engagementwith edge and bottom seals 53, 52 respectively of a windshield track.The frame 15 is disposed generally perpendicularly to the windshield 54in such a situation, and the handle 18 of frame 15 is generallyperpendicular to edge 28 and parallel to edge 29. The handle 18facilitates steadying of the assembly when force is applied thereto.

The operator grasps handle 18 of frame 15 with one hand, and bringschisel member 30 which has been operatively attached to a suitable powersource such as air hammer into operative engagement with frame 15 byhaving fork prongs 32, 33 thereof receive upstanding portion 17 of frame15 while collar 19 is abutted. Operation of air hammer 40 via trigger 44will then effect guided powered cutting of windshield track members 52,53 simultaneously with a minimum of time and effort, and allow easyreplacement of the windshield 54.

While the invention has been herein shown and described in what ispresently conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment,it will be obvious that many modifications may be made thereof withinthe scope of the invention. For instance, other suitable frame steadyingmeans, blade attaching means, chisel movement preventing means,force-transferring means, and powered force-supplying means could beprovided, and any conventional windshield tracks may be cut. Othermodifications are also possible, thus the invention is to be accordedthe full scope of the appended claims so as to encompass all equivalentstructures and devices.

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly for cutting windshield tracks and the like comprising a.cutting means for simultaneously cutting two portions of a windshieldtrack or the like, said cutting means comprising a generally L-shapedcutting blade having first and second legs of said L sharpened, saidlegs for cutting different portions of a windshield tracksimultaneously,

b. means for mounting said cutting means and for providing positivedirection therefor, said means including an elongated frame memberhaving a portion thereof for grasping by an operator and an end portionfor mounting the first of the legs of said L-shaped blade,

0. power means for supplying a mechanical force to said frame member ina direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of elongationthereof, and

d. means for transferring a mechanical force from said power means tosaid cutting means through said frame member, said transferring meanscomprising (i) means for abutting said elongated frame member at a pointthereof between the portion thereof for grasping by an operator and thegeneral area of mounting of said cutting means to said frame member, and(ii) means for operatively connecting said force transferring to saidpower means.

2. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said portion of said forcetransferring means for abutting said frame member comprises a pair offork prongs for receiving said frame member therebetween, and whereinsaid force transferring means further comprises an elongated middleportion.

3. An assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said frame member has acollar thereon at the area of operative engagement of said forcetransferring means with said frame member, said collar for preventingmovement of said force transferring means toward said cutting meansduring operation of said assembly.

4. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said power means comprisesan air hammer.

5. An assembly for cutting windshield tracks and the like comprising a.a generally L-shaped cutting blade having first and second legs of saidL sharpened, said legs for cutting different portions of a windshieldtrack simultaneously,

. an elongated frame member, said frame member having a collar thereon,

c. means for mounting the first of the legs of said L- shaped blade tosaid elongated frame member, and means for transferring a mechanicalforce to said cutting blade by acting on said frame member in adirection substantially parallel to the plane of the sharpened edge ofthe first leg of said L-shaped blade, said means including a chiselmember having (i) an elongated middle portion, (ii) a first end meansfor connecting said chisel member to a power force supplying means, and(iii) a second end means including a pair of fork prongs for generallyloosely receiving said frame member and for abutting said collar so thatsaid chisel member does not move towards said blade.

6. Means as recited in claim 5 wherein said frame member comprises anelongated portion disposed in a plane generally parallel to said firstleg of said L-shaped blade, and a handle portion for facilitatingcontrol of said blade disposed in a plane generally perpendicular tosaid first leg of said blade.

7. An assembly as recited in claim 5 further comprising a power forcesupplying means operatively connected to said chisel member first endmeans, said power force supplying means comprising an air hammer.

1. An assembly for cutting windshield tracks and the like comprising a.cutting means for simultaneously cutting two portions of a windshieldtrack or the like, said cutting means comprising a generally L-shapedcutting blade having first and second legs of said L sharpened, saidlegs for cutting different portions of a windshield tracksimultaneously, b. means for mounting said cutting means and forproviding positive direction therefor, said means including an elongatedframe member having a portion thereof for grasping by an operator and anend portion for mounting the first of the legs of said L-shaped blade,c. power means for supplying a mechanical force to said frame member ina direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of elongationthereof, and d. means for transferring a mechanical force from saidpower means to said cutting means through said frame member, saidtransferring means comprising (i) means for abutting said elongatedframe member at a point thereof between the portion thereof for graspingby an operator and the general area of mounting of said cutting means tosaid frame member, and (ii) means for operatively connecting said forcetransferring to said power means.
 2. An assembly as recited in claim 1wherein said portion of said force transferring means for abutting saidframe member comprises a pair of fork prongs for receiving said framemember therebetween, and wherein said force transferring means Furthercomprises an elongated middle portion.
 3. An assembly as recited inclaim 2 wherein said frame member has a collar thereon at the area ofoperative engagement of said force transferring means with said framemember, said collar for preventing movement of said force transferringmeans toward said cutting means during operation of said assembly.
 4. Anassembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said power means comprises an airhammer.
 5. An assembly for cutting windshield tracks and the likecomprising a. a generally L-shaped cutting blade having first and secondlegs of said L sharpened, said legs for cutting different portions of awindshield track simultaneously, b. an elongated frame member, saidframe member having a collar thereon, c. means for mounting the first ofthe legs of said L-shaped blade to said elongated frame member, and d.means for transferring a mechanical force to said cutting blade byacting on said frame member in a direction substantially parallel to theplane of the sharpened edge of the first leg of said L-shaped blade,said means including a chisel member having (i) an elongated middleportion, (ii) a first end means for connecting said chisel member to apower force supplying means, and (iii) a second end means including apair of fork prongs for generally loosely receiving said frame memberand for abutting said collar so that said chisel member does not movetowards said blade.
 6. Means as recited in claim 5 wherein said framemember comprises an elongated portion disposed in a plane generallyparallel to said first leg of said L-shaped blade, and a handle portionfor facilitating control of said blade disposed in a plane generallyperpendicular to said first leg of said blade.
 7. An assembly as recitedin claim 5 further comprising a power force supplying means operativelyconnected to said chisel member first end means, said power forcesupplying means comprising an air hammer.